A smart, patient veteran who brings a much-needed running presence between the tackles. Will be 32 in August, but is coming off the best season of his career.

FB: Mike Cox

Allows the pocket to muddy too much in pass pro, and hasn’t proved to be a domineering lead-blocker.

WR: Chris Chambers

Re-signing him was huge (and $15 million over three years, with $5.9 million guaranteed, is a good price). He’s the passing game’s only creative playmaker.

WR: Dwayne Bowe

Time to grow up.

WR: Dexter McCluster**

Will be a great toy for Charlie Weiss. He’s a Percy Harvin-type multi-threat.

TE: Leonard Pope

Well-sized. Saw frequent action as a blocker last season. That said, third-year pro Brad Cottam is a more gifted player and should capture this job.

TE: Tony Moeaki**

Could sneak into the starting lineup given that he’s the only tight end who offers a genuine combination of receiving and blocking skills.

LT: Branden Albert

Critics needs to pipe down and consider that he’s only been playing LT for two years and has had little to no help during that time. Of course, this isn’t to say he doesn’t need to take a big leap forward in 2010.

LG: Brian Waters

Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2009. At 33, he’s still as good a player as he is a person. Lands sticky blocks on the move extremely well.

C: Casey Wiegmann*

Has been the smallest C in the NFL for the past decade but has missed only one game during that time. Nearing his end, but he wouldn’t be here if he couldn’t still be effective.

RG: Ryan Lilja*

Colts will rue the day they let him go….just like the Chiefs have rued the day they let him go six years ago.

RT: Ryan O’Callaghan

Plays too tall, gets driven in pass protection and doesn’t sustain blocks extremely well. But the Chiefs can survive with him in the lineup.

6 OL: Jon Asamoah**

Nasty third-round rookie who can play center or guard.

Defense

Coordinator: Romeo Crennel

LDE: Tyson Jackson

Watching the film, it’s inconceivable that he was drafted third overall. Has the size, explosiveness and power of a late second or early third-round pick. Miscast in this 3-4 scheme.

NT: Ron Edwards

Not a bad player, but not a true NT. Of all the Chiefs’ flaws, this one hurts the most.

RDE: Glenn Dorsey

Talent is there, but it doesn’t show in this scheme. Might move to NT in an effort to salvage his career.

4 DL: Shaun Smith*

Lazy. Still, the Chiefs may be willing to take a shot if they think he can be a plugger.

LOLB: Mike Vrabel

Veteran leadership is the only reason he has a roster spot at this point.